NAA: A1, 1925/12637
Gruneberg, Helene Marie Elfrieda
Digital copy - 1614366
| Occupation as written | Housekeeper |
| Standardised occupation | DS01: Domestic service - Indoor service |
| Application received | 8 Jan 1917 |
| Application status |
Multiple applications |
| Official | A.H. |
| Date of approval or denial | 26 Jan 1917 |
| Date of final conclusion | 12 Feb 1925 |
| If rejected, why? | German 1917. approv 1925 |
| Birthplace as written | Berlin |
| Modern country | Germany |
| Age on application | 30 |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 27 |
| Port of Departure | London, England |
| Port of Arrival | Sydney |
| Date of arrival | 20 Apr 1914 |
| Name of ship | Miltiades |
| Voyage | Miltiades (1914-04-20) |
| Address in Australia | 221 Macquarie Street, Sydney |
| Address State | New South Wales |
| Time at address | 4 months |
| Previous address 1 | Glebe |
| Address State | New South Wales |
| Time at address | 9 years |
| Previous address 2 | Darling Point |
| Address State | New South Wales |
| Time at address | 3 months |
| Previous address 3 | Waterloo St Surry Hills |
| Address State | New South Wales |
| Time at address | 1 years, 5 months |
| Married | Widow |
| Children | Yes |
1 boy born 1907. |
| Name of reference | Vincent McPhee |
| Occupation of reference | Medical Practicioner, Buckland Chambers, Liverpool St, Sydney |
| Marginalia description | |
| Police report attached | Yes |
| Link to other applicant | |
| Literate | Yes |
| Reason | other |
| Other information | Police Report, Detective Souter, 18 January 1916: she told the Detective that 'she now wishes to get married again and would like to be a free subject' |
26 December 1916, Gruneburg to Hunt: widow for 7 years. husband was German; left for England 'soon after he died, and arrived in Australia, as I told you in my former letter, in 1914, before the outbreak of the War.'
Police Report, Detective Souter, 18 January 1916: boy living with her parents in Berlin. husband exempt from military service on account of health; he was a hotel keeper; after his death she went to London and worked as cook and housemaid at different houses, and then moved here and 'followed her usual calling'. Currently employed by Mrs Morgan, Residential Chambers, 221 Macquarie St., Sydney, as a housemaid. Only contact with Germans her parents. Can 'speak fairly good English, can read English very indifferently and can only write the same from copy'. Charged on 26 May 1915 with failing to report herself to the police as an Alien. Fined £10, which was paid, and since reported as required. Dr McPhee was questioned and made clear that he only referred to her work at the Glebe, which was fine, but he 'in no way vouching, that she was known to him otherwise... when applicant was first employed by him, she rpresented herself as a native of Norway.' Report states 'that no injustice would be done in not granting applicant's naturalization papers, and no doubt her principle reason for so applying is solely to be relieved of the necessity for reporting herself'
She applied again in 1915. On the form then, she stated her son, Herbert Wolfgang Grunesberg, 18, 'It is 17 years since I saw my child and if he is alive is probably in Berlin'. A Home and Territories Department Memorandum, 23 October 1925, by WIlkes, notes that they don't object to her getting naturalised. SHe was 'and intelligent and industrious woman' but also that she 'was fined £10 and £2/2/- costs for assaulting her employer. She is said to be of a violent temperament and in past years bitterly hostile.'
Second attempt: granted on 12 February 1925